List of Happy Things

Visualize

If you or someone you know struggles with maintaining their weight, I have a quick-tip = "Mind over Matter".  I'm not talking about willpower as a decision one makes whether or not to eat something they shouldn't.  I'm talking the WHY you want it.  Find a photograph of what you want - that makes you yearn.  Feel it.  One look at the photo and you're quickly reminded WHY you're working hard and staying focused.   If the photo doesn't cause adrenalin to rush through your body and mind, keep searching for the image that will.  Visualization is so powerful - harness the power. 

Tomorrow

It's ironic to write this post after asking for your advice on relaxation tips.  But part of my early issues with anxiety was being in a constant state of worry.  I'm proud to say that once I realized that worrying didn't change the outcome of the worry - I learned to stop.  It took some work, some deep thought, a lot of books and practicing the self-help techniques.  I'm proud to say it worked - worrying is something I can control.  I used to nearly wish my life away, worrying about the future and never enjoying today.  I'm now able to be in the moment, right now, and deal with things as they happen.  I think that's called living.

Worrying didn't change anything and only made me feel worse.  The truth is - whatever is going to happen - will happen - whether we worry about it or not.  So worrying is of no relevance and holds no value.  So, I stopped and it wasn't all that hard.

Relax

Looking for advice on this one!  I can't relax and struggle with anxiety just about every minute I'm awake.  I sleep well and tend to feel better when I exercise, so I'm lucky in that regard.  Anxiety is so common these days that I'm certain you have tips and tricks on making it happen.  I think mine stems from an overactive mind, not necessarily chemical issues. Please provide your thoughts!

Quit

The most common problem I face helping people change their lifestyle is - quitting.  I'm surprised why so many people feel their either on a diet - or off.  Successful or unsuccessful, never in between.   While I struggled with this issue myself long ago, it occurred to me one day just to STOP the madness.  Why do we beat ourselves up for indulging in something we know we shouldn't.  This isn't about willpower.  Sometimes we have real cravings based on chemical imbalances or vitamin deficiencies.  We need to learn and understand our bodies.  A chocolate craving for instance, can be related to a magnesium deficiency - maybe a vitamin supplement will help solve that issue going forward.  Too tired to exercise means we've succumbed to the vicious cycle of not doing it vs. just doing it which would make us feel and sleep better.   If you're not up for walking a mile, walk around the block - it's still better than nothing.

Instead of quitting, think of it as a learning experience.  Why did you want to eat something bad or not exercise last night?  Did you feel better after?  Was it worth the mental anguish you now face?  Truth is, it probably didn't taste as good as you thought, nor did it provide the satisfaction you thought it might, or laziness just makes you feel regret now.  These poor decisions delay your success by yet another day. You still have to wake up tomorrow and think "okay, today's the day".  That gets old - wouldn't success be much more enjoyable?

If we start to understand our actions and view them differently - really think about the root cause and effect - only then can we change the behavior.   Don't quit, just re-evaluate and learn.

Low-Carb Luxury

There's a diet revolution happening and I'm excited to be a part of it.  I'm a firm believer that low-carb not only helps a person lose weight, but it also increases brain function.  Like many adults, I was labeled ADHD and took meds to help gain and maintain focus.  Once I started low-carbing, my focus drastically improved and it turned out to be a wheat allergy.

Wheat has been genetically modified over the past few decades with the scientific focus on farming, NOT on how it harmed humans.  If you don't know about GMOs, do some research - it is eye opening and likely the root to many of your ill-health symptoms.

Not all low-carbers give up wheat, but I highly recommend it.  Today, almond flour and coconut flour are easy substitutions for white flour and wheat and allow us to make the breads and desserts we love.   Going low-carb is a smart decision and recent research confirms that it is what our bodies crave.

Journaling and Stress

Stress is one of those silent killers.  Stress is commonplace in today's world and we all but expect it as a part of our normal, daily lives.  Society expects us to be strong and wise and as a result our soul underbelly can become callused and neglected.   At that point, we can become hardened and unemotional to all things around us - if we're not careful and aware.

Long ago I realized that I had all kinds of stress and emotion I couldn't talk about.  Therapy and Rx, didn't work.  Everyone has problems and mine wouldn't make sense to anyone but me.  There was a point in my life, I had to get that emotion OUT of my skull - so I started writing.   To myself.  Journaling, in a password protected document that I carried around in my wallet. 

On my darkest days, I would write for hours and I actually felt better after getting it out.  I saved my words and many times enjoyed looking back at them as the years passed to see how far I'd grown. Healed.   I started writing in 1997 and ended up with over 17 years of documented emotion.  It was my personal treasure.  I highly recommend letting yourself and your emotions have a voice in a SAFE place for no ones eyes but your own.  

If journaling becomes a wonderful experience for you, like it was for me - I offer this one last piece of advice: save your work on 2 or 3 different, password protected, flash drives.   Please.   I didn't know flash drives can fail - until two months ago .... when I lost everything I'd ever written to a dead flash drive.  All those years of journaling and growth = lost.  It felt like death losing my 17 years of documented history.  I miss my journal, mostly because I don't have a memory and it was "it", and the me I've long forgotten.  I've grown so much over the years and enjoyed seeing my progress so clearly in writings.  What bothered me 10 years ago, just doesn't matter to me these days - I loved seeing that evolution! 

So I view this dead flash drive as yet another growth opportunity - to let the past stay in the past.  I've since come to peace with it.  And I move on knowing I've grown and survived tough times, on my own because of my journal.   I will journal again .... just not yet.  My mourning period hasn't yet passed.  I still carry my dead flash drive with me, because maybe someday there will be a cure..........and I can revisit my real me.  The me that lives amongst the chaos and stress of every day life, standing tall and wise because - that's what we do.  It's expected.